Are CBD drinks a good alcohol substitute? Put simply – Yes. Here we find out why…
Why would you make the switch?
Alcoholic drinks, whether it’s wine, beer, spirits or a fancy cocktail, are bad for you. Within the medical research community, it’s widely agreed that there is no safe amount of alcohol and that even very moderate alcohol consumption can carry a significant health risk. A few decades ago, it was believed that a few glasses of wine, particularly red wine, was actually good for you. However, new research has shown this not to be the case.
How is alcohol harmful?
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that, in 2019, alcohol was directly responsible for almost 6 million deaths worldwide (including around 10 thousand in the UK) which is around 6% of all fatalities.
Worryingly, the age group with most alcohol related deaths was 20-39 year olds, meaning that it was one of the most common causes of death for those under 50.
Alcohol can cause a wide range of health issues, from heart and liver disease to cancer and a weakened immune system. That’s on top of injuries caused by falls, fights and road traffic accidents happening while under the influence.
Also, consuming alcohol puts you at a higher risk of contracting a sexually transmitted infection (STI) due to poor decision making and the aforementioned weakened immune system.
How can CBD drinks help?
Much like alcohol, CBD can have a relaxing and mood changing effect. However, CBD does not carry the health risks associated with alcohol.
Many people use alcohol to relax after a hard day of work or study, but often don’t realise the harm that regular pint or glass of whiskey can do.
With CBD drinks, you can have the great flavour and relaxation, but without harming your body in the process.
Let’s talk about calories
Alcohol contains A LOT of calories. A typical pint of larger, for example, contains over 200 hundred calories, and a cocktail made with sweet ingredients can contain double that.
In parts of the world where alcohol consumption is legal and an accepted part of society and socialising, obesity is often a serious problem.
As an example, let’s look at Romania. Romanians consume more alcohol on average than any other county in the world, and their obesity levels are worryingly high at around 25% of the population. Here in the UK, we have similar levels of obesity and are known around the world for our heavy alcohol consumption.
In contrast, CBD drinks contain far fewer calories, with some containing none at all.
What about addiction?
Drinking alcohol heavily can easily lead to addiction. In fact, there are estimated to be over 600,000 people in the UK that have some form of alcohol dependency. Alcohol addiction can lead to severe health, social and economic problems for an individual.
CBD is not psychoactive, so does not install addictive or habit-forming behaviours.
Summary
Alcohol is a widely consumed drug in many parts of the world, including the UK. But it comes with great risks including poor health, addiction and injury.
We started this blog with the question (and answer) – Are CBD drinks a good alcohol substitute? Put simply – Yes
Now you know why.
